Life can be hard and stressful; however, I am here for you. Here’s a 10 part series to a healthier life. I’ve found each of these so true in my own life and seen their effects on others.

Go Outside

There has been a 400 percent increase in the number of teens and adults medicated with anti-depressants between 1988-1994 and 2005-2008, according to the National Center of Health Statistics. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. affecting 40 million adults. Depression and stress rates are also at an all time high for children — especially females entering adolescence. I know I have felt stressed and depressed over the last several years.

Instead of getting on a medication (that has plenty of its own problems), there is a much simpler solution to our nation’s stress problem: going outside. There have been hundreds of studies showing nature’s positive power on not only stress and depression but on many health issues. These health benefits are nicely outlined by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). People who walk 15-30 minutes a day have fewer diseases, are less likely to get cancer,have a lower risk of heart attack and stroke, and have better bone density (US Department of Agriculture). The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has also compiled articles and research showing the importance of the great outdoors (references on NWF — website below):

Body

• Outdoor play increases fitness levels and builds active, healthy bodies, an important strategy in helping the one in three American kids who are obese⁷ get fit.
• Spending time outside raises levels of Vitamin D, helping protect children from future bone problems, heart disease, diabetes and other health issues.⁸
• Being out there improves distance vision and lowers the chance of nearsightedness.⁹

Mind

• Exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing ADHD symptoms.¹⁰
• Schools with environmental education programs score higher on standardized tests in math, reading, writing and listening.¹¹
• Exposure to environment-based education significantly increases student performance on tests of their critical thinking skills.¹²

Spirit

• Children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces.¹³
• Play protects children’s emotional development whereas loss of free time and a hurried lifestyle can contribute to anxiety and depression.¹⁴
• Nature makes you nicer, enhancing social interactions, value for community and close relationships.¹⁵

I used to live outside. Okay, not really, but as soon as the temperature allowed me to go outside without freezing my face off, I was outside. As I became a teenager and mastering the cat eye took priority, I spent less and less time out of doors. I didn’t really realize how weak and overall blah I had become until I spent all summer outside again. Yes, even sleeping outside occasionally. I really felt like I was awake during the day — despite the fact that I had to get up at 7 every day. Normally, I take vitamins and vitamin D on a regular basis, but I was already getting so much sun, that I didn’t need the supplement (side note: vitamin D deficiency causes tiredness and soreness. If you’re getting enough sleep and still feeling groggy or if you are always sore, you might want to get your vitamin levels tested). Even though the food at camp was not healthy by any means, the house I lived in was full of mold, and I had to work in the rain and heat, I ended camp feeling healthier than I had in years.

As I am writing this, it is November 6th and a remarkable 70 degrees out. I brought my hammock to school the other day and took a peaceful hour break from homework and classes over my lunch break. There aren’t going to be many more days like this left in the year. That’s a scary thought… finals and freezing temperatures… Blizzards and graduating! Moving out and — excuse me, I’m going to go take a 30 minute walk.

References:

http://www.asla.org/healthbenefitsofnature.aspx

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/about/programs/gsv/pdfs/health_and_wellness.pdf

http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Kids-and-Nature/Why-Get-Kids-Outside/Health-Benefits.aspx